Cologne have completed the signing of striker Steffen Tigges from Borussia Dortmund on a five-year deal.

Tigges, 23, scored three goals in nine games with Dortmund's first-team last season, operating as understudy to Manchester City-bound Erling Haaland.

He had previously scored 22 goals to help the BVB reserves win the Regionalliga West and gain promotion to Germany's third tier and is confident he can find his scoring boots at with his new side.

"I'm really looking forward to Cologne and I'm sure that I can contribute my qualities to the team and also develop further at the highest level," he said.

"The discussions with the coach and the officials immediately convinced me that this was exactly the right step for me. I'm sure that I'll fit in well with the team and the style of play and that we can have a very good season.

"The fact that Cologne is one of the biggest clubs in Germany with outstanding support from its fans also played an important role in my move. I can't wait to get started."

Tigges joined Dortmund in summer 2019, having not long helped boyhood club Osnabrück lift the Third Division title. He registered nine goals and 10 assists in his first season with the BVB reserves, before captaining the side to fourth-tier glory the following campaign.

With Haaland and Youssoufa Moukoko sidelined, the 6'4" left-footed striker was later given a taste of top-tier football by then-interim coach Edin Terzic, and last season made 15 appearances for the first team, scoring his first Bundesliga goal against Cologne in a 2-0 win for BVB in October.

"We are happy that we were able to sign Steffen Tigges," Cologne sporting director Christian Keller said. "Steffen has many important qualities for a striker.

"He has good close-range finishing, can hold the ball up well and is good in the air, as well as his sense of anticipation. Added to this is his willingness to work aggressively and constantly against the ball. At the same time, Steffen can improve many elements of his game."

Watch: Tigges opens his Dortmund account against Cologne

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Tigges can now look forward to competing for regular minutes with the likes of Sebastian Andersson and Anthony Modeste. He could even make his debut in the Billy Goats' pre-season friendly against Italian champions AC Milan in the Telekom Cup on 16 July.

Cologne - who finished last season's Bundesliga in seventh place to secure a Europa Conference League play-off spot - were drawn to face Bundesliga 2 team Jahn Regensburg in the first round of the DFB Cup, which is scheduled for the weekend of 29 July - 1 August.

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